LATEST figures show there were 27,604 crimes recorded in Stockport during the last year - a decrease of six per cent.

But according to the British Crime Survey 2006-07, which provides local, regional and national statistics, violent incidents in the borough rose four per cent compared from 4,050 to 4,212.

Supt Alison Fletcher, head of operations in Stockport, says although the force is happy with the overall picture there will be no complacency and work is already underway to reduce violent crime.

Areas of improvement included burglaries (down 10 per cent), robberies (falling five per cent) and vehicle thefts (12 per cent down).

Theft from motor vehicles rose 18 per cent - another area police have vowed to target.

Supt Fletcher said: "Overall it's a good reflection on the hard work of the police and our partners in the community but we want to do more.

"We try to focus on areas where there are emerging problems and provide a rapid response. We also work with offenders and stringently check bail conditions.

"We recognise the increase in violent crime and we want to reassure the public we are taking steps to deal with it."

Initiatives include high visibility work in the town centre and on buses, particularly the 192 route, to reduce offences, a partnership with licensing to deal with alcohol related crime and targeting of parks.

So far for 2007-08 violent crimes against the person are down 22 per cent.

And theft from vehicles has also fallen. Although further initiatives are expected to deal with this type of crime, car owners have been urged to leave tempting items such as satellite navigation systems out of view.

During the last year the areas have been cleaned and crime reduction leaflets handed out.

Members of the Safer Stockport Partnership, a multi agency task force involving the Council, have welcomed the figures, but claim crime has fallen by only three per cent.

And they say despite the rise in violent crime the number of serious woundings has fallen dramatically.

Councillor Hazel Lees, executive member for community safety, said: "This is excellent news and confirms that we are making good progress in Stockport and are ahead of the national average.

"The police and their partners are to be praised for their efforts and I am delighted with the even better performance in the last three months which has seen crime falling to its lowest level since these targets were set.

"We need to make sure that we keep this momentum up and the Council will be playing its role to the full."

Overall recorded crime rose by one per cent across Greater Manchester, fell by four per cent in the North West and by two per cent nationally.